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Freiburg Match Preview

Borussia Monchengladbach | 1860 Munich | Schalke | Freiburg

PUBLISHED

09:30 9th August 2014

A look at City's last pre-season friendly opponents...

STOKE CITY round off their pre-season campaign with a fourth game against German opposition as SC Freiburg provide the final test before the Barclays Premier League season begins in just seven days time.

The Potters are hoping to follow up their comfortable 2-0 victory over Spanish outfit Real Betis on Wednesday with another positive result at the Mage Solar Stadion this evening (kick off 5.30pm local time).

Freiburg are looking to improve on a fourteenth place finish in the Bundesliga last term and boss Christian Streich has brought in several new faces to help their cause.

Admir Mehmedi, who netted 13 for the club last year whilst on loan from Dynamo Kiev, has sealed a permanent transfer whilst Sascha Riether has arrived from relegated Fulham, Mike Frantz from Nurnberg and Sebastian Mielitz from Werder Bremen.

The summer has seen centre half Matthias Ginter depart for title-chasers Borussia Dortmund although they were quick to sought out Serbian Stefan Mitrovic as his replacement from Real Valladolid.

An eclectic mix of friendlies with sides from across the continent has seen the Germans record comfortable victories over local non-league sides Eintracht Freiburg and Tennenbron as well as triumphs over FC Winterthur, SV Endingen and Swiss side St Gallen.

However, they could only manage a draw with Bundesliga 2 side VfR Aalen and they've been defeated by Torpedo Moscow and Stade Rennais.

That defeat to the French Ligue 1 club came last Saturday in a game which saw them 3-0 down after just 18 minutes.

Felix Klaus pulled a consolation goal back just prior to the break but they were unable to get themselves back into the game and salvage some pride.

Along with previous opponents Borussia Monchengladbach and Schalke, the self-confessed 'Brazilians of Breisgau' are another team who played in Europe last season and were eliminated at the group stages of the UEFA Europa League following games with Sevilla, Estoril and Slovan Liberec.

Last term also saw them end Pep Guardiola's 100% start to his reign at Bayern Munich when Nicolas Hofler came off the bench to help secure a 1-1 draw in October.

Their all-time record goalscorer is current Germany manager Joachim Low, whilst they also once provided the home for current Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse.

Follow coverage of City's game here on stokecityfc.com at The Wall, with photos, a report and reaction to follow afterwards.